Braess's paradox (source code)

= Braess's paradox
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= Braess paradox
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Adding a link to a nonatomic traffic <flow network> can increase the equilibrium travel delay. Extra routes change the incentives defining a <Wardrop equilibrium>, so the new equilibrium need not retain an earlier good allocation. The system-optimal delay cannot worsen when the old allocation remains feasible; the paradox concerns selfish equilibrium.